Attachment of steel feet to cast iron frames



J. L. BROWN 2,165,032 ATTACHIENT OF STEEL FEET TO CAST IRON FRAIES July 4, 1939.

Filed Dec. 23, 1937 mm m Fig!

WITNESSES: 4 7? Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES ATTACHMENT OF STEEL FEET TO CAST IRON FRAMES John L. Brown, Verona, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Application December 23, 1937, Serial No. 181,338

Claims.

This invention relates to supporting means for electric motors or other machines and more specifically to a method for securing steel supporting members to a cast iron machine frame.

It is customary, in many cases, to use cast iron for the frames of electric motors and generators because of the relative ease with which it can be cast into intricate shapes and machined, which makes it more economical than using steel castings. Cast iron, however, is brittle and considerable trouble is experienced with the breakage of cast iron feet or other supporting members, which are usually cast integral with the frame. It would be desirable, therefore to use some tougher material, such as steel, for motor supports in order to avoid this trouble.

The present invention provides a method of attaching steel feet or other supporting members to a cast iron machine frame so as to provide a strong, rigid attachment which will not be loosened by shock or vibration. This makes it possible to use supporting means for the machine having the strength and toughness of steel, while at the same time the advantages of using cast iron for the frame itself are retained.

By using supporting members formed separately from the frame, another important advantage is obtained. If it is desired to provide a motor with a supporting member or bracket of special design for some particular purpose, the support can be fabricated from steel plate and secured to the cast iron frame by the method of the present invention. This results in a considerable saving in time and cost over the usual practice of casting the supporting member or bracket integral with the frame since this requires making a special pattern which may be used only once or only a few times.

One object of the invention therefore is to provide a cast iron motor frame having steel feet or supports secured thereto.

Another object is to provide a method of attaching steel supports to a cast iron machine frame.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, steel studs of large size are threaded into holes tapped in the machine frame. Holes of suflicient size are then drilled in the steel supporting member and it is placed in position on the frame with the studs extending into the latter holes, and welded to the steel studs, thus forming a very rigid connection.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a motor frame;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevationof the frame of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view III-III of Fig. 1.

The invention is shown in the drawing for the purpose of illustration as applied to securing steel feet to an electric motor having a cast iron frame I, which is formed with suitable bosses 2, for the attachment of the supporting members or feet. Holes 3 are drilled into these bosses at the desired points of attachment. and internally threaded, and steel studs 4 are-screwed tightly into these holes. Foot straps 50f steel are provided and holes 6 are drilled in them corresponding in position to the studs 4. The foot straps 5 are placed on the bosses with the heads of the studs 4 extending into the holes 6 and are welded to the studs as indicated at I. The bottom of the foot straps may be machined after welding to give a smooth surface for mounting the motor in position. If desired, suitable holes 8 may be drilled in the ends of the straps for the reception of bolts for mounting the motor. It should be noted that studs of large size are used in order to give the desired strength and rigidity to the connecin section on the line tion and the holes 6 in the foot strap are made sufficiently large to provide room for welding without the necessity of counterboring.

By using the method of the present invention, therefore, it is possible to attach steel feet to acast iron machine frame easily and rapidly and thus eliminate the difficulties caused by breakage of cast iron feet while retaining the advantages of using cast iron for the frame itself. It will be obvious that any type of supporting member may be used such as individual feet, foot straps as shown on the drawing or brackets of special design.

By using this construction, it will be seen that where special supporting means are desired, they can easily be formed from steel plate and secured to a machine frame of standard design by the present method. This is an important advantage, since it greatly reduces the cost of such special mountings by eliminating the necessity for providing special patterns for these machines, which are necessary when the support is cast integral with the frame as is usually done.

The studs 4 have been described as steel studs and this is the preferred construction but it would be possible to use studs of other materials J Fr having the necessary strength and resistance to breakage, such as bronze, and this construction is within the scope of the invention. When such studs are used, they will be secured to the steel supporting members by some method such as brazing which will provide a strong, rigid connection. It Will be seen, therefore, that in its broadest aspect, the invention contemplates the provision of supporting members of a material not easily liable to breakage for a frame structure of a relatively brittle metal and a method of securing such members to the frame structure by inserting studs of suitable material in the frame and securing the supporting members to the studs by welding, brazing or any equivalent method of molecularly integrally uniting them.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that it is not restricted to this particular type of machine but is of general application for securing supporting members to frame structures of any type. The invention, therefore, is not limited to the particular embodiment described but includes all equivalent constructions and methods which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A frame structure of a relatively brittle metal having a metal stud secured therein and a supporting member of a relatively tough metal molecularly integrally united to said stud.

2. A cast-iron machine frame having a steel stud secured therein, and a steel supporting member molecularly integrally connected to said stud.

3. A cast iron machine frame having studs secured therein and projecting therefrom, and steel supporting members rigidly fastened to said studs.

4. A cast iron motor frame having bosses formed thereon for the attachment of a supporting member, steel studs threaded into holes in said bosses and steel supporting members welded to said studs.

5. A method of securing steel supporting members to a cast iron motor frame comprising inserting steel studs in threaded holes in the frame, forming holes in the supporting members so located that said studs will project into them and welding said members to said studs.

6. A method of securing a steel supporting member to a cast iron machine frame which comprises inserting steel studs into said frame so that they project therefrom and Welding said member to said studs.

'7. A method of securing a steel supporting member to a cast iron machine frame which comprises providing studs projecting from the frame and molecularly integrally uniting the supporting member to said studs.

8. A method of securing a supporting member of a relatively tough metal to a frame structure of a relatively brittle metal comprising securing a metal stud in the frame structure and molecularly integrally uniting the supporting member to the stud.

9. In combination, a machine frame of a metal liable to breakage, a supporting member of a relatively tough material, and means for permanently securing the supporting member to the frame to form a rigid unitary structure.

10. In combination, a cast iron machine frame, a supporting member of a relatively tough metal, and means for permanently securing the supporting member to the frame to form a rigid, unitary structure.

JOHN L. BROWN. 

